are 1996 VW Jetta 2.0 engines interference or not?

http://repairpal.com/timing-belt-broke-is-my-engine-a-non-interference--431

All the forums I've read say yes...It's an interference motor. That being said, pulling the head and inspecting the pistons and valves is a good thing for a vehicle this age. Fresh head gasket at a minimum is a great reliability action. Best of luck. It may not be damaged if the break occurred at low RPM.

2.0 engine is not an interference engine its only the v6 modals. If you recently had a timing belt snap on you be sure to have the timing done properly because it will have gone all out of wack.

You may be right, Deathjam4, I haven't found the Bentley reference as yet. Good write-up here: http:// faculty.ccp.edu/faculty/dreed/campingart/jettatech/t-belt/index.htm

the only engines that are interferiance engines are the 16 valve and 30 valve engines. So if your engine has panels on it that says 16V you got an interferance engine. i jsut remembered that when i was looking under the hood of my audi.

The 2.0 ABA is a 9:1 compression block...US only as well. Would still be advisable to put a fiberscope in each plug hole and check for piston crown impact...better safe than sorry.